Achieving High-Value Care Through the Enhanced Respiratory Care Program
At the recent Institute for Healthcare Improve Forum on December 10–13, 2023, in Orlando, FL, the Physician-Patient Alliance for Health Safety was invited to present on our Enhanced Respiratory Care program.
The Enhanced Respiratory Care program is based on standards published by the American Association for Respiratory Care (AARC), which achieved liberation rates of 65%. The Enhanced Respiratory Care Program is endorsed and supported by the AARC.
Implemented in 2002 in Tennessee as part of TennCare’s plan to improve enhanced respiratory care quality, this program saw resource utilization rates double from an average of $350 to $700 per day and earned national recognition of excellence from the American College of Chest Physicians (CHEST)
High-Value Care and Enhanced Respiratory Care Standards of Care
The Enhanced Respiratory Care Committee developed the Enhanced Respiratory Care Standards of Care. This Committee is composed of the following members:
- Thomas M. Fuhrman, MD, MMSc, FCCP Chief of Anesthesia, Bay Pines Veterans Affairs Healthcare System – Tampa Bay, Florida
- Clyde Heflin MD, FACCP – Pulmonologist – Nashville, Tennessee.
- Pam Clayton RN, LNHA – VP Quality, Regulatory Affairs at GA Health Care Association
- Carrie Ermshar MBA, LNHA – Senior Care Executive Consultant, Houston, Texas
- William Beal RRT, Massachusetts Board of Respiratory Care – Norwell, Massachusetts
- Lisa Zaenger RRT, VP of Staffing at PEL/VIP – Oak Lawn, Illinois
- Zachary Gantt RRT, FAARC, President and CEO Encore HealthCare – Livingston, Tennessee
Enhanced Respiratory Care: Enhanced Respiratory Care Accreditation and Certification
The Enhanced Respiratory Care program consists of two facets:
- CME: Certification of Clinicians in Enhanced Respiratory Care to educate clinicians on the Enhanced Respiratory Care Standards – for more information on these continuing medical education courses, please click here; and
- Accreditation of Healthcare Facilities in Enhanced Respiratory Care to accredit healthcare facilities on the Enhanced Respiratory Care Standards.
Enhanced Respiratory Care Healthcare Facilities Achieving High-Value Care
As of December 15, 2023, 9 healthcare facilities across 5 states in the United States (Hawaii, Illinois, Indiana, Tennessee, and New York) have met or exceeded the Enhanced Respiratory Care Standards of Care.
Apply for Enhanced Respiratory Care Accreditation
We invite you to learn more about Enhanced Respiratory Care Accreditation, by clicking here, and to demonstrate your commitment to patient safety and quality patient care, we invite you to apply for Accreditation by completing this simple online form.